Muscari

Muscari have their historic roots dug in across the Mediterranean, Central and Southern Europe, Northern Africa and parts of Asia.

The existence of the many synonyms in the related literature can be downright confusing. It certainly makes accurate plant identification and naming an interesting pastime.

A recent study (Böhnert & al 2023) identifies Muscari as having 5 sub genera, those being Muscari, Leopoldia, Muscarimia, Pseudomuscari and Pulchella.

Muscari subg. Muscari. Usually blue, violet or blackish flowers, sometimes with a white tip, constricted to unconstricted at throat and comparatively dense racemes.

Muscari subg. Leopoldia. Usually larger than those of the other subgenera, with fertile flowers more or less tubular, and strongly constricted at their mouths. Most often found in combinations of brown, cream, yellow, white to nearly black.

Muscari subg. Muscarimia. Different from the other sub- genera as they have perennial, swollen roots as well as distinctive floral scent.

Muscari subg. Pseudomuscari. Most usually have flowers with very little constriction at their mouths.

Muscari subg. Pulchella subg. Proposed as a sub genus by Böhnert & al very recently (Böhnert & al 2023). This subgenus contains plants which are relatively small and have blue flowers in rather dense in- florescences, with more sterile flowers.